Ethical Leadership: C-Suite Problems Should Be Corrected Quickly

The title of the list below could be “Ethical Leadership Problems” or it could just as easily be “Things to do in Order to Ensure That Your Business Will Fail.” Are any senior leaders in your organization doing any of these things?

Failing to stay current in a professional field

Refusing to listen to company employees

Violating company leadership standards, but asking others to meet them

Making decisions without seeking input

Skipping training required of other company-wide leaders

Asking employees to do work you are not willing to do

Why Does C-Suite Behavior Matter So Much?

C-Suite behavior matters because people do what they see the senior leaders do. If employees see dysfunctional behaviors among senior leaders, they assume that there is complete acceptance of those dysfunctional behaviors throughout the organization and see it as a “green light” for them to use those same behaviors whenever they like.

Why Aren’t C-Suite Problems Dealt With Quickly?

It is definitely uncomfortable to talk with a senior leader about behaviors that are bad for the organization. That discomfort can lead to delaying the conversation until the situation has gotten out of hand.

The “green light” that employees “see” that may lead them to use negative behaviors when a senior leader does can cause those problems to spread like a virus until you have moved from one C-Suite leader using dysfunctional behaviors to an entire organization using dysfunctional behaviors.

In the article Why Do Businesses and Leaders Fail? Dan McCarthy references Jim Collin’s book “Why the Mighty Fall” and discusses more destructive leadership behaviors that can lead to business failure.

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About Linda Fisher ThorntonLinda Fisher Thornton is Founder and CEO of Leading in Context, and author of the award-winning book 7 Lenses. She teaches as Adjunct Assoc. Prof. for University of Richmond SPCS. She is leading a movement to help leaders and organizations Unleash the Positive Power of Ethical Leadership.